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As the leaves are changing colors, the nights are getting cooler and the days are a little shorter, it must mean Halloween is around the corner. One of the most fun times of the year, Halloween is the kickoff of sweet treats, decorations, and getting dressed up.
Keeping Halloween to all treats and no tricks, the Blue Bin Halloween Safety Blog post explores best practices for properly disposing of costumes, pumpkins, Halloween decorations, candy wrappers, lighters, and matches.
Costumes
What are you dressing up as for this year? Whether you decide to be a cartoon character, a politician, a witch, or a black cat, please remember that textiles can be donated, reused, or repurposed, but they do not belong in your #bluebin!
Pumpkins
Your beautifully decorated pumpkins are the same as food waste. Pumpkins do not go in the garbage or blue bin. Put your pumpkins in your organic waste.
Halloween Decorations
All the spooky plastic decorations and string lights that got your house in the fall mood can easily be donated or sold. Better yet, repair and reuse the decorations next year. Do your part to increase the lifespan of plastics by not putting Halloween decorations in your blue bin. Help make this Halloween a green one.
Candy Wrappers
Yummy! to all the delicious candy collected while trick or treating. However, besides potential cavities and sugar rush, there is a downside: candy wrappers. Candy wrappers do not go in your blue bin. Instead, collect your candy wrappers and bring them to your closest Recycle BC Depot or even your local London Drugstore.
Lighters and Matches
Lighters and matches can cause explosions and fire dangers if disposed of incorrectly. While both lighters and matches cannot be recycled and do not go in your #bluebin, if handled properly, they can be disposed of in your garbage.
A regular butane lighter that is empty can be disposed of in your curbside garbage. Please ensure it is empty of lighter fluid. Lighter fluid is flammable and is a risk when compacted in a garbage truck. Matches can also cause fire risks if simply thrown in your garbage. Before disposing of matches, they should be soaked in water, and then they are safe to be disposed of in your garbage.
For more information in your area, please call the Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or 1-800-667-4321, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Fireworks
Fireworks are always fun! Always dramatic, fireworks are a perfect way to wrap up Halloween, whether you’re at a large public event or a Halloween block party.
However, fireworks can be dangerous when incorrectly disposed of. To you, the individuals who handle your waste, and the environment. Fireworks are flammable by nature, and they are at a high risk of starting fires or exploding when processed in recycling trucks or facilities. Fireworks do not go in your recycling bins. The best way to dispose of used fireworks is to soak them over night and then put them in your waste bin. Unused fireworks can be dropped off at your local police or RCMP station.
When dropping them off, always call ahead and do not bring them into the station; leave them in your car. For more information in your area, please call the Recycling Hotline at 604-732-9253 or 1-800-667-4321, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Happy Halloween!
